Vikings followers react within the stands throughout a sport in opposition to the Inexperienced Bay Packers at U.S. Financial institution Stadium.
The Minnesota Vikings wrapped up the feverish portion of free company in March and an entire draft in April. Subsequent are organized staff actions (OTAs) in Might, minicamp in June, and coaching camp in July. So, let’s peek on the predominant storylines for the purple staff after the draft.
Minnesota’s roster is generally constructed, however a number of unresolved questions nonetheless carry actual summer season weight.
Ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = most essential), these are the juiciest subplots to observe.
4 Submit-Draft Questions Nonetheless Matter for Minnesota’s Summer time Plan
Which storyline catches your consideration essentially the most?
Minnesota Vikings proprietor Mark Wilf attends league conferences with staff executives and NFL management, Mar. 30, 2026, on the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix, Arizona, as organizations throughout the league collect to debate competitors guidelines, enterprise initiatives, and long-term technique through the annual NFL assembly. Necessary Credit score: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Photographs.
The Announcement of the Subsequent Normal Supervisor
The Vikings’ house owners fired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on January thirtieth, three and a half weeks after the common season and 5 days after Sam Darnold punched his ticket to the Tremendous Bowl. Within the meantime, Rob Brzezinski has run the present and is predicted to be the frontrunner for the large job.
We all know two issues in regards to the present search:
Brzezinski has reportedly expressed curiosity in staying on board as the primary man within the director’s chair.
The Vikings gained’t announce common supervisor candidates. It’s a closed ebook.
Within the subsequent few weeks, the franchise will reveal the brand new GM’s id, and that will probably be that.
Caleb Banks’s Foot
Banks, the Vikings’ 1st-Spherical choose final week, broke a bone in his foot on the NFL Mix, sinking his inventory from a agency 1st-Spherical choose to a no brainer 2nd-Rounder as a result of huge males on damaged toes bones don’t combine nicely. Minnesota picked Banks in Spherical 1 any rattling manner.
Now, we wait.
Banks might be completely able to go by coaching camp. He might be a type of conditions the place the Vikings proceed with essentially the most extreme diploma of warning you may ever probably think about. They try this typically.
ESPN’s Valeria Havrylets wrote about Banks in March, “While at the NFL Draft Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana, the 6’6”, 327-pound lineman ran a 5.04-second 40-yard sprint and a 9’6 “broad jump. However, Banks opted out of an on-field workout due to cleat discomfort. The night before his on-field testing, Banks suffered a fractured foot and continued to perform a partial workout, not knowing the extent of the injury.”
“He underwent surgery on Monday to repair the fourth metatarsal bone in his foot. During the 2025 season for Florida, Banks suffered a similar foot injury in training camp, leading to him missing most of his senior season games. Banks returned to play the final two games against Tennessee and Florida State, finishing the season with six tackles and one tackle for loss. After a standout performance at the Panini Senior Bowl practices in February, Banks has been seen as a leading candidate to be the first defensive tackle selected in the NFL Draft in April.”
Christian Darrisaw’s ACL
Darrisaw tore his ACL in late October 2024, and by December 2025, the Vikings shut him down as a result of one thing simply wasn’t proper. Optimists have assumed and hoped that the left sort out will probably be absolutely healed by coaching camp, however within the backdrop, Minnesota additionally drafted Northwestern sort out Caleb Tiernan in Spherical 3 final weekend.
Finally, Darrisaw will most likely be tremendous and dandy for Week 1 of 2026, however it might be good to know that formally. The true take a look at will probably be coaching camp and the way Darrisaw appears to be like throughout these 4 weeks.
Harrison Smith’s Return or Retirement
The central thriller right here revolves round Smith’s uncharacteristic silence. He hasn’t uttered a phrase to the media since Week 18 (early January), providing no indication of retirement, a return, or every other plans. This stands in stark distinction to earlier offseasons, when he usually made his intentions recognized early, permitting the Vikings to plan their roster accordingly. This yr, nevertheless, is completely different.
Regardless of the uncertainty, the Vikings proceeded with their offseason strikes. They drafted Miami security Jakobe Thomas in Spherical 3, quite than a highly-touted prospect like Dillon Thieneman in Spherical 1. This resolution suggests the Vikings don’t anticipate a rookie instantly entering into Smith’s position.
The Week 18 sport in Inexperienced Bay, an emotional and becoming victory over the Packers, strongly conveyed a way of finality for Smith. In the meantime, different veterans like Adam Thielen and C.J. Ham made their retirement bulletins as anticipated. Smith stays conspicuously silent.
Minnesota Vikings defensive again Harrison Smith (22) goes by means of pregame warmups on the sphere, Aug. 24 2018, at U.S. Financial institution Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, because the Vikings ready for a preseason matchup in opposition to the Seattle Seahawks with Smith on the point of anchor the secondary. Necessary Credit score: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports activities.
His extended silence has led many to imagine he’ll return for an additional season, a chance that continues to be. But, the interval of hypothesis can not final indefinitely. The Vikings require a definitive reply quickly to finalize their plans — one would assume.
If not, Minnesota will roll with Josh Metellus, Jay Ward, Theo Jackson, and the newcomer Thomas at security in 2026. There are worse foursomes. That group may simply do the trick.
